People ex rel. Edison Electric Light Co. v. Barker

— As the questions involved in both the above entitled proceedings are the same, except as to the amounts, they may be considered together. It is conceded that, in the case of the Edison General Electric Company, the assessment should be reduced to the valuation shown by the statement presented to the tax commissioners, viz. $240,275; and that, in the" case of Edison Electric Light Company, the assessment must be reduced to the valuation shown by a similar statement, to $7,820. This leaves the only question in these proceedings one of residence.

The relators claimed below that on the second Monday of January, 1894, they were and still are nonresidents of the city of New York, and, therefore that the tax commissioners haue no jurisdiction over them, and that the assessment was illegal and void. In disposing of this contention favorably to the relators, the learned judge at special term held that this principle was controlled by his opinion in the Case of General Electric Co. (which, as affirmed, is herewith handed down) 36 N. Y. Supp. 842 . We think, however, there is a distinction between the General Electric Case and that of these relators, growing out of the difference connected with their incorporation. The General Electric Company was incorporated by a special act of the legislature, and was empowered by such act to fix its residence by its by-laws, which was done, its principal place of business being thereby placed in the city and county of Schenectady, where the business of the company on the second Monday of January, 1894, was, and continuously ever since has been, principally carried on. These relators here, however, are manufacturing corporations, created under the general act of 1848 as amended; the last of these amendments being embodied in the corporation law of 1892, the provisions of which, so far as they relate to the incorporation of the relators, are found in chapter 691 of the Laws of that year.

In the original act of 1848 (chap. 40) the provision was that the certificate of incorporation should state “ the names of the-town and county in which the operations of the said company are to be carried on.” By Laws 1892, c. 691, § 2, it is provided that the certificate, among other things, shall contain “the location of its principal business office.” These relators, in accordance with what they regarded as, and what was, the law, fixed their status in their certificate, and, as shown-by the return of the tax commissioners, which is not disputed, “the town and county so recited in the said certificate was the city of New York, and no other place whatever, save only that the said certificate of the relator attempted to qualify the rectial as to its principal office contained

It has been urged that the position of the relators is to be distinguished from the Knickerbocker Press Co. Case, in that the latter corporation filed its certificate and designated its place of ■business pursuant to an express requirement of the statute, which, with regard to business corporations such as the relators, it is claimed, is wanting. We think, however, that an examination of the original act of 1848 and the amendments shows a clear intent on the part of the'legislature to require in the certificate of incorporation a statement of the “ principal office or place for transacting the financial concerns of the company.!’

As upon this question of residence we think the Knickerbocker Press Co. Case is in principle controlling, the assessments should be modified as to the amounts indicated in this opinion, and, as so modified, the orders should be affirmed, without costs to either party upon this appeal.

All concur.